Furniture construction



NOV. 7, 1939. s ic 2,179,138

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR.%W

ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1939. L. STICKLEY FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed April15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lf/ INVENTOR. BY

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED eATENT orriea FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION ILeopold Stickley, Fayetteville, N. Y.

Application April 15, 1937, Serial No. 137,085

1 Claim. (01. -77) This invention relates in general to furnitureconstruction, and more particularly to the construction of articles offurniture equipped with drawers, such as desks, bureaus, chest ofdrawers etc.

The invention has as an object a construction by which the drawer isguided, during sliding movement thereof, in such manner that the drawerwill not bind and accordingly, may be moved inwardly and outwardly bygrasping the drawer at any point along the front side thereof.

The invention has as a further object, a construction by which thedrawer is maintained in substantially horizontal position during slidingmovement thereof, and by which the drawer is accurately fitted to theframework with no perceptible play between the drawer and the framework,and by which construction the drawer will not become bound in theframework because of change in atmospheric conditions.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a drawer and contiguous portion of theframework with parts shown in section.

Figure 2 is a View taken on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front, elevational view of the drawer and contiguousportion of the frame" work with parts shown in section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, plan view of one rear corner of the drawerillustrating a modified form of guide member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, elevational of the structure shown in Figure5.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the drawerreceiving framework and contiguous portion of the drawer with partsshown in section and illustrating a modified form of the lateral guidemember.

It is well appreciated by those familiar with the art of constructingfurniture that the use of drawers creates a considerable problem. Thisis particularly true in the construction of the better grades offurniture where the entire article is formed of wood. Due to theinherent characteristic of wood changing in dimension because of changein atmospheric conditions, .dilliculty is encountered in manufacturingan article equipped with sliding drawers. If the drawers are acview .and bottom edges of the sides of the drawer.

curately and properly fitted into the drawer receiving framework at thefurniture manufacturing plant, the drawers will bind and stick duringdamp weather. The greatest trouble is encountered by the drawer stickingalo-ng the top This is due to the fact that wood swells and shrinkscrosswise of the grain, and does not change to any noticeable extentlengthwise, or with the grain. To overcome this difficulty, it isconventional practice to so construct the drawer and fit the same to theframework with an appreciable amount of clearance between the drawer andthe framework, the clearance being sufficient to allow the wood toexpand and swell without bind-;

. ing in the framework. However, when the article of furniture soconstructed is used in an ordinary or dry atmosphere, the drawer isextremely loose in the framework and the front of the drawer sags ordrops downward when the drawer is pulled out.

The feature of this invention is to so construct the drawer andframework that there is a small amount of clearance between the drawerand the framework, whereby the drawer properly fits the framework andwill not sag when it is drawn outwardly, and at the same time the drawerwill not bind or stick in damp atmospheric conditions. The framework maybe of any suitable size or construction, depending upon the type ofarticle itis incorporated in.

For convenience of illustration, the framework herein disclosed includesvertical side members l0 and arear wall I l. The side members H] areformed with dove-tail slots extending from the rear wall ll forwardlyto, a point adjacent the front of the framework. Drawer supporting railsI? are arranged in these slots and extend from the rear wall H forwardlyto a front cross rail E3, the ends of which are also located in theslots in the side Ill. The drawer is slidably mounted in the openingbetween the side rails l2 and cross rails l3, and consists of a frontend member it, a rear end member l5, and side members l6, and a bottomIll. The drawer illustrated isof conventional construction. The sidesand end pieces are formed with a rabbet spaced apart from their loweredges to receive the peripheral margin of the bottom ll. It will beunderstood that the sides It of the drawer are slidably mounted upon therails l2, and the top edges of the sides I6 usually coact with thesupporting rails of the drawer above to prevent the drawer from tiltingwhen pulled outward.

In order that the drawer may slide freely, it is necessary that it beguided both laterally and vertically. Heretofore, it has beenconventional practice to rely upon the sides I6 of the drawer coactingwith the sides of the framework [0 for lateral guidance. In suchconstruction, if the drawer is grasped at one forward corner, or thedrawer is of appreciable length and provided with a pair of spaced aparthandles, and one handle only is pulled, the drawer becomes canted withone side thereof engaging one side of the framework adjacent the frontthereof, and the rear portion of the opposite side of the drawerengaging the opposite side of the framework at the rear thereof, withthe result that it is necessary to apply considerable effort to pull thedrawer out, or push the same back in place.

This invention has to do in part with a particularly novel constructionfor laterally guiding the drawer, and by which the drawer will notbecome canted, and by which the drawer is freely slidable regardless ofthe load carried thereby, or whether the force is being applied in thecenter or at one end of the front side of the drawer.

This guide means is here shown in. the nature of a pair of guide stripsI8 mounted upon the supporting rails I2 and yieldingly pressed againstthe inner surface of the side members I6 below the bottom members I'I.Preferably, the guide strips I8 are p-ivotally mounted between theirends to the supporting rails l2, as by screws I9. The lateral guidestrips I8 are mounted on the rails I2 in spaced apart relationship tothe inner surface of the sides IU of the framework, the spacing beingsuch as to receive the lower edges of the drawer side I6. The guidestrips I8 and rails I2 are provided with counterbores 20, 2|,respectively to receive the coiled portion of a torsion spring 22, oneend of which is arranged in a slot 23 formed on the upper surface of therail I2, and the opposite end of the spring is arranged in a slot 24formed in the under surface of the guide strip IS. The guide strip I8 isalso formed with an enlarged aperture 25, through which the screws I9extend.

The arrangement of the spring 22 is such as to effect yielding movementof the strip I8 throughout its entire length toward the inner surface ofthe drawer sides I6, and to particularly move the guide strip about thepivot screw I8 to urge the outer ends of the guide strips toward thewalls It of the framework.

It will be observed that it is not necessary to cut any notches in thefront of the framework or drawer in connection with the guide strips I8.The forward ends 26 of the guide strips are tapered, as at 28, so thatthe drawer may be readily and conveniently inserted in the framework.

In operation, the rear ends of the sides l6 of the drawer coact with thetapered surfaces 28 and move the forward ends 26 of the lateral guidestrips l8 inwardly, or toward each other, whereby the drawer may bepushed inwardly with the lower edges of the sides I6 overlapping theouter edges of the guide strips I8, and the guide strips I8 areyieldingly pressed against the inner surfaces of the sides I6, aspreviously described. Accordingly, any tendency of the drawer to becomecanted is resisted in both directions by the action of the springs 22.

It will be observed that with this lateral guide construction, thedrawer is yieldingly maintained in parallel relationship with theframework, with the result that the drawer is freely slidable in theframework.

This invention further includes means for guiding the drawer vertically,or for maintaining the drawer in horizontal position during slidingmovement of the same. The sides I6 and the rear wall I5 of the drawerare slightly less in width than the front pieces 14. The clearancebetween the upper edge of the sides I6 and the rail I 2 above issufficient to accommodate for any expansion or swelling of the sides I6,because of atmospheric changes.

With this construction, it is obvious that when the drawer is pulledout, the forward end will drop or tilt downwardly until the rear end ofthe upper edge of the sides I6 coacts with the under side of the railsI2 above.

I provide means to prevent this tilting in the nature of verticallyarranged guide pieces 30. In keeping with the remainder of thestructure, the guide pieces 30 are also formed of wood and are mountedon the inner surface of each side I6 of the drawer adjacent the rear endthereof, and with the grain extending vertically or transversely of thesides I6. The guide pieces are of such length that when they rest uponthe bottom I'I they project upwardly from the upper edge of the sides ofthe drawer and terminate adjacent the under side of the rails I2 above,there being a, slight clearance between the upper ends of the guidepieces 30 and the rails I2 to permit free sliding movement of thedrawer.

Due to the fact that the grain of the guide pieces 36 extendstransversely of the drawer side I6, or vertically, these pieces will notchange in length with atmospheric changes and accordingly, the clearancebetween the upper ends of the guide pieces 30 and the rails I2 abovewill not vary. Accordingly, the drawer is maintained in substantiallyhorizontal position at all times during sliding movement of the drawer.Due to the fact that the side members I6 of the drawer will swell andexpand an appreciable amount, the guide pieces 36 are secured to theside members I6 in such manner that the side pieces of the drawer arefree to expand or swell without effecting vertical movement of the guidepieces.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the inner surfaces of the drawer sides I6are formed with transversely extending dovetail slots, and the guidepieces 30 are provided with complemental dovetail ribs of slightly lesswidth than the slots. That is, the guide pieces 30 are slidably mountedin the slots in the sides of the drawer. The guide pieces 36 may besecured at their lower ends to the drawer by being glued to the bottomIT, or by a screw 3| extending through the bottom ll into the lower endof the guide piece 30.

In Figures 5 and 6, the guide pieces 30 are arranged in the rear cornersof the drawer, and are secured to the side members I6 thereof so as topermit the side members to swell and shrink without eifecting movementof the guide pieces. As here shown, the guide pieces 36 are formed withvertical slots 32 through which a screw 33 extends, and which isthreaded or screwed into the side member I6. Pivotal movement of theguide member 30 about the screw 32 is prevented by contact of the guidemembers with the rear end member I5 of the drawer.

If desired, the projecting or upper ends of the guide pieces 30 may alsobe used as part of a lateral guide mechanism for smaller drawers whichhave a small load carrying capacity, and which are not likely to becomecanted. This guide structure comprises a guide piece 35 mounted on theunder side of the rail l2 above the drawer and coacts with the innersurface or sides of the guide piece 30. The guide strips are providedwith oneor more enlarged holes to receive screws 36. The screws 36 arelocated in the rails l2 to approximately position the guide strips 35,and the guide strips subsequently adjusted toward or from the sidemembers of the drawer, and the screws 36 then tightened to secure theguide strip in adjusted position.

The guide strips l8 may also serve as a stop to limit the inwardmovement of the drawer. Preferably however, the outer or front ends ofthe guide strips I8 are provided with adjustable stop means, here shownin the nature of screws 40, the heads of which coact with the inner sideof the drawer front M. The screws 49 are particularly convenient toadjust inasmuch as they are accessible from the front of the frameworkwhen the drawer is removed.

It will be observed that my construction does not add to the cost of thearticle of furniture in which it is incorporated. The guide pieces 30,attached in the manner shown in Figures 5 and 6, do not add anythingsubstantial to the cost of the drawer, and the yielding lateral guidestrips l8 effect a saving over conventional guide means now in use, forexample the center strip guide commonly employed toguide drawerslaterally, and in addition thereto considerable time is saved in that itis not necessary for the cabinet maker to make a series of adjustmentsbefore the drawer finally operates in a satisfactory manner. This is dueto the yielding movement of the guide strips.

What I claim is:

In a furniture construction, the combination of a drawer receiving frameand a drawer slidably mounted therein, said frame including a pair ofspaced apart drawer supporting rails, an upper rail arranged above oneside member of the drawer, a guide piece formed of wood and beingarranged vertically on the inner side of said side member of the draweradjacent the back member thereof and extending from the bottom member ofthe drawer upwardly above-the upper edge of said side member andengaging said upper rail to maintain the drawer in horizontal position,the grain of said guide piece extending lengthwise thereof and meanscooperable with said side member of the drawer and said guide piece tomaintain the same in vertical position and to permit vertical expansionand contraction of the side member of the drawer relative to said guidepiece.

LEOPOLD STICKLEY.

